Bulky Item to Bulky Item.

Does anyone know what this is?

I picked it up during bulky item week in my town a few years ago and the ol' ball and chain is threatening to throw it out today (another bulky item day) if I can't figure out what it does. Oh woe is me! Doesn't he just understand that it is blue and retro and that's all it needs to do?
Ugh.
Maybe I'll get Hazel to convince him. You think he can resist this?

Or this?

In a Nutshell.

After a quarter of a year, I wonder if anyone will read this? Maybe Courtney? Haha, I've been a lousy blogger. But I'm hopefully going to try to start up again, especially considering farmers' market season is right around the corner.
I've been busy working, and writing for various publications - I'm kind of excited about an article that I'm writing for a locavore magazine this summer. I'll post the link when it's up (and it will be available in a bunch of SouthCoast area stores).
I went fabric shopping yesterday to cheer myself up after a lousy week. I went to Tumbleweeds in West Barnstable, which is the best fabric store around, and I'm thrilled to see that they have a blog now.
I got Heather Bailey paisley, a Moda green dot print, and this amazing 1930's repro that I will take pictures of when I can find my flippin' camera (I just saw it the other day...) I did snag some pictures of the HB paisley and the moda dot online:




I got this Amy Butler pattern that I'm going to use my new fabric on as soon as it arrives in the mail:


And, to cheer me up, my friends surprised me with a gift card to Target online, which I promptly spent on this:


And this:


The Seams to Me book has a pattern for the cutest skirt ever, so I can't wait to get my scraps out and make it. I can't wait to get sewing. Last summer, I sewed like a banshee for other people - now I'll get a chance to just make things for myself (and friends, but without the pressure!).

Good Reads!

If you are on Good Reads, friend me! My e-mail is anneobrienkakley@gmail.com.
In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book has stuck with me since I first read it ten years ago in an American Literature college course. It's a book that, stylistically, probably deserves four stars; there are some awkward jolts in the momentum of the story. But I can't bring myself to lower my perfect rating. I get so attached to Sam and Emmett everytime I re-read this book that I feel like I would be letting them down personally if I were to confess flaws in the story.

Several reviewers have noted that this book ought to be on high school reading lists. I agree. As a high school English teacher, I added this to my curriculum and found it was a great asset, both to class conversation, but also to my students' understanding of Vietnam and its legacy. Mason deftly juxtaposes the vapid pop culture of 1980's America against the raw wound of Vietnam's collective memory.


View all my reviews.

Good 'ol Ben.

“Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late."
-Ben Franklin

For the Stonewall Enthusiast

Hate to break up the dessert sauce party, but I think that you should know about this recall.

Vintage Crochet Shell Pattern

I took a whole hour this morning (after working super late last night, mind you) and transcribed this awesome old Coats and Clark pattern from my grandmother's stash. This is the crochet shell that I am currently working on.
I think that this pattern is offically public domain at this point. If I am wrong, please contact me and I will certainly take it down.

Three-Skein Crochet Shell
(Coats and Clark B-660 circa 1968)

Needed: 6 ounces of sport-weight yarn.

Crochet hook size G.

Gauge: 1 motif = 2.25”; 4 rows = 1.25”

Back:
Starting at lower edge, ch 66 to measure 18 inches.
Next row, right side: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 3, skip next 3 ch, in next ch, make dc, ch 2 and dc; ch 3, skip next 3 ch, sc in next ch. Repeat from * 7 more times – 8 motifs created. Ch 6, turn.
1st row: *Make 5 sc in the ch-2 space between the 2 dc’s, ch 3, dc in the next sc, ch 3. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 3, dc in the last sc. Ch 1, turn.
2nd row, right side: Sc in the first dc, *ch 2, yo hook, draw up a loop in the next sc to measure .75”, yo hook, draw up a loop in the same sc to the same height, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook – cluster made; (ch 1, cluster in next sc) 4 times; ch 2, sc in the next dc. Repeat from *across, ending with a sc in the 3rd ch of the turning chain. Ch 5, turn.
3rd row: *Sc in the next ch 1 sp between next 2 clusters, (ch 3, sc in the next ch 1 space) 3 times; ch 2, dc in the next sc, ch 2. Repeat from * across, ending with a ch 2, dc in the last sc – 8 motifs completed. Ch 1, turn.
4th row: Sc in the first dc *ch 3, in the next center ch 3 loop make dc, ch 2 and dc; ch 3, sc in the dc. Repeat from * across, ending in a ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of turning chain. Ch 6, turn. Repeat first through 4th rows for pattern. Work in pattern until total length is about 13.5”, ending with 2nd row of pattern. Break off and fasten. Turn.

Armhole shaping: Skip first motif, attach yarn to next sc, ch 5, *sc in the next ch 1 space, (ch 3, sc in the next ch 1 space) 3 times; ch 2, dc in the sc, ch 2. Repeat from * 5 times more, ending with ch 2, dc in 2nd sc from end – do not work over remaining motif. Ch 1, turn. Starting with 4th row of pattern, continue in pattern over these 6 motifs until length from the first row of armhole shaping is about 4.5 inches, ending with 3rd pattern row. Ch 1, turn.

Neck shaping – First half: 1st row: Sc in 1st dc, ch 3, in next center ch 3 loop make dc, ch 2 and dc; ch 3, sc in the next dc, ch 3, in the next center loop, make dc, ch 2 and dc. Ch 1, turn. Do not work over remaining motifs, continue over the sts of previous row only as follows:
2nd row: 3 sc in the next ch 2 space, ch 3 and complete as for first pattern row. Breakoff and fasten.

Second half: Skip next 2 complete motifs on last row before neck shaping, attach yarn to center ch 3 loop of following motifs.
1st row: Ch 5, dc in the same loop, ch 3, sc in the next dc and complete row as for 4th pattern row. Ch 6, turn.
2nd row: Repeat first pattern row, ending with 2 sc in last loop, sc in 3rd turning chain. Break off and fasten.

Front: Work as for Back until length from the first row of armhole shaping is about 3”, ending with 3rd pattern row. There are 4 fewer rows than on Back to Neck shaping.

Neck shaping – First Half: Repeat first and 2nd rows of First Half of Neck Shaping of Back. Do not break off. Ch 1, turn.
3rd row: Work as for 2nd row of pattern to within last 3 sc, ch 2, cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1, hdc in last sc. Ch 1, turn.
4th row: Sc in hdc, (ch 3, sc in next ch 1 space) twice; ch 2, dc in next sc and complete row in pattern. Ch 1, turn.
5th row: Work as for first row of Neck Shaping, ending with dc, ch 2 and dc in last ch 3 loop. Ch 1, turn.
6th row: Repeat 2nd row of this Neck Shaping. Break off and fasten.

Second half: Skip next 2 complete motifs on last row before Neck Shaping, attach yarn to center ch 3 loop of following motif, ch 5 and work same as Second Half of Back Neck Shaping until the 2nd row is completed (do not break off). Ch 3, turn.
3rd row: Skip first sc, cluster in the next sc, ch 2, sc in the next dc, complete row in pattern. Ch 5, turn.
4th row: Work in pattern, ending with ch 2, sc in ch 1 space, ch 3, sc in next space, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch of turning chain. Ch 5, turn.
5th row: Dc in first ch 3 loop, ch 3, sc in next dc, complete row in pattern. Ch 6, turn.
6th row: Work in pattern, ending with 2 sc in last loop, sc in 3rd ch of turning chain. Break off and fasten.

Block. Sew the last rows of Front and Back together for shoulder seams. Sew side seams.

Armhole edging: With right side facing, attach yarn to side seam.
1st round: SC evenly along armhole edge holding it in to fit and having an even number of scs. Join with sl st to first sc.
2nd round: Ch 1, sc in joining, *ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around skipping 2 sc instead of one sc at each corner of armhole. Join last ch 3 with sl st to first sc. Break off and fasten.

Neck edging: Attach yarn to shoulder seam at neck edge and work as for Armhole Edging. Break off and fasten.

Bottom edging: Attach yarn to opposite side of starting chain at lower edge and work as for Armhole Edging.

Weave ends.

Hooray for Happy Things.

I was glued to the set for the entire inauguration. Okay, let's get trivial for a sec - was I the only one who loved Michelle Obama's dress?